Good art is always in fashion, and Asheville – in addition to its reputation for beautiful scenery, craft beer, and fabulous restaurants – is increasingly establishing itself as an arts destination. Nestled within the Appalachian Mountains in the western part of the state, the small city and its surrounding area is home to a thriving community of artists, galleries, and institutions dedicated to visual arts.
Momentum Gallery owner Jordan Ahlers has been a fixture in downtown Asheville’s visual arts scene for the past twenty years. Prior to opening Momentum in October 2017, he spent eighteen years at the helm of one of the region’s largest craft galleries. As chief curator and gallery director, Ahlers led that gallery through a period of significant growth, overseeing operations and responsible for curating its expansive space.
In 2017 Ahlers took the leap and opened his own gallery in downtown Asheville. Regarding his newest venture, Momentum Gallery, Ahlers comments,“I wanted to continue to raise the bar for the local art scene and provide a venue that introduces museum-quality work from around the country while simultaneously showcasing the best of this region. We are passionate about elevating the Asheville community as an Arts Destination, propelling our artists’ careers, and promoting their work to national and international audiences.” Momentum Gallery presents a highly-curated collection of some of the finest artwork being made in the country. Ahlers says impeccable craftsmanship plays a role in the works he selects, as the gallery celebrates material-based traditions rich in the area and reflects a contemporary aesthetic in harmony with natural surroundings.
Momentum Gallery currently features about forty artists’ work, several of whom Ahlers has worked with for nearly twenty years. “It’s a privilege to have that kind of longevity with an artist, to witness larger arcs in their career or see a relationship between ideas they’re working through now and something they may have explored a decade or more ago.”
Ahlers cites the collection at Momentum is constantly evolving with incoming works, curated exhibitions which typically run for two months, visiting artists, and more. The gallery offers considerable diversity, showing paintings, original prints, sculpture (both wall-mounted and freestanding), and unique studio furniture pieces.
Momentum has a modern and contemporary feel – much of the work they show references nature or architecture, but they also have compelling figurative and abstract work, all with the objective to make an impression on their visitors. “We love it when people tell us how amazed they are to find a gallery of this caliber here in North Carolina. We appreciate the opportunity to connect people with artwork that makes them deliriously happy!”
Ahlers says the gallery regularly works with homeowners, businesses, designers, and architects to help them find the perfect art for their spaces. Different clients require various levels of assistance. “We’re thrilled when someone walks into our gallery and sees the perfect piece; that’s great! But many of our clients need help in more effectively placing art that they already own, finding a new home for works that no longer fit their tastes, or searching for a unique piece for that special location.” This approach lets people tap into team Momentum’s skills in designing spaces and in acquiring art on favorable terms.
Gallery staff often works initially with clients to help define personal tastes and understand goals, then bring Jordan in to consult as needed. Working independently or in tandem with industry partners, the gallery is able to offer comprehensive art-related services to clients including personal curatorial service, assistance with sourcing and acquiring original work, site-specific commissions, determining focal points and key locations for art, advising on the development of private and corporate collections, delivery, packing, installation, framing, documenting and appraisal of artwork for insurance. The gallery even advises and assists clients on the deaccessioning of unwanted artworks. Ahlers comments, “It’s rewarding to get to know our collectors. People have deeply personal connections with the spaces they live in, so it is an intimate privilege to be invited to work in someone’s home.”
Later this year Momentum Gallery will open in their permanent home at 52 Broadway in downtown Asheville. “It is a fantastic historic building with great bones, located on the main north/south route through downtown.” The new and expanded, two-floor venue quadruples the size of their original bricks and mortar space offering an increased profile among downtown galleries. Momentum is significantly upgrading the 100 year old building with modern amenities affording a setting for the most deluxe art experience in Asheville.“We will have the ability to better showcase our artists’ work, with opportunities for displaying large-format installations, along with smaller works scaled more appropriately for residences.”
Ahlers plans to continue to build Momentum’s brand, working with more individuals and design professionals, as well as creating partnerships with socially-responsible organizations to host events that raise awareness for causes that benefit the community and the planet. He says the gallery intends to offer more educational events, allow additional opportunities for people to connect with artists, and help coordinate events that create and engage arts tourism locally. Ahlers says, “We will continue to bring in more top-tier artists and facilitate access to them and their work to people who live in and visit the region.” Fashion changes with every season and we may watch current trends come and go, but provocative art that feeds the soul is timeless.
